FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

The following are scenarios that illustrate how to handle unexpected occurrences during a public speech:

1. Someone Laughs. If someone laughs during your talk, do not immediately think they are laughing at you.  That would be a false, negative thought.  It could be that you said something funny.  For example:

An 8-year-old Mormon boy was giving a talk to church members about the angel Moroni.  But he said, “angel Macaroni.”  Everyone laughed, and the boy was embarrassed.  However, they truly loved that boy. What they were laughing at was a mental picture of a giant macaroni with angel wings, not at the boy. 

Smile as if you agree with the humor, or ignore it and proceed.

2. Someone Walks Out. There are many reasons why people leave a presentation.  Most reasons have nothing to do with you or your presentation.  Here are some potential causes.

• They have something pressing going on in their life that needs to be immediately addressed.
• They may be present because of a requirement. Being there against their wishes is the number one reason for people to leave early.  If they were sitting in a seat near an exit, it’s a clue that they had intended on leaving early.  If they get up and go, smile.  You know exactly why they left.
• Did they just receive a cell phone call?  Most people who accept a call during a meeting only accept important calls.  They may be leaving so as not to interrupt your presentation.
• Is your topic controversial?  Caution – if you are a beginning public speaker and take on a controversial topic, you are far braver than most experienced speakers.  It would be safer to pass on such speeches until you’re comfortable with public speaking. 

3. Controversial Topic. If you give a speech on a controversial subject, you must prepare for all kinds of adverse reactions, including “the walkout.”  Instead of fretting over their departure, you should smile. Those kinds of people can make your presentation difficult, and the most significant thing to help you is to have the agitators leave.  This is true even if it is 50% of your audience.  The best thing to do is to ignore it.  Please do not ask them to come back, and do not make a sarcastic comment.  The worst thing that could happen is to have those people return.

4. Someone Asks for the Mic.  If someone comes up to the podium and asks for the microphone, never-ever-ever relinquish control.  You have no idea what insulting or derogatory nonsense they may spew from their mouths. 

5.  Someone Jeers or Boos. This sometimes occurs during a controversial speech at high schools and colleges.  A group of agitators may choose to drown you out with boos.  The best way to handle this is to discuss security measures with the people hosting the speech.  If the agitators are rowdy and too many for the security to handle, you must have an exit strategy.  One experienced comedian had the following method for dealing with a large group of obnoxious people.

He took out his key chain containing 5 to 10 keys and jingled the keys at the hecklers, looking them in the eyes with a hypnotic stare.  Calmly and slowly, he would jingle keys at each of the hecklers.  When the audience began to wonder what was going on, he slowly said, “Shiny,    Shiny    Shiny,” with a strong accent on the “y” (nēē) as if hypnotizing a pack of wolves.  This would usually bring down the house with laughter.  Each time the obnoxious ones interrupted the comedian, he would grab his keys and jingle them with a smile without saying anything.  About the third or fourth time, members of the audience began holding their keys, exhibiting the jingle dance. 

Be careful! This may require the security team to come in to protect the agitators. 

6. Someone Falls Asleep. There are many reasons for people to fall asleep during a presentation.  Some have worked long hours and are tired.  Some have just finished lunch.  This is why you should do everything possible to speak in the morning.  If it has to be afternoon, it should be after 2 p.m.  A golden rule is to avoid giving speeches in a warm room after lunch. 

7. Other Issues. Another problem has to do with the topic.  Some topics will put nearly anyone to sleep.  Take, for example, “The Asymptotic Relationship Between Converging Variables.”  

Topics like that also point to another problem – do not use words that less than 90% of your audience understands. And stay away from repeated use of military acronyms.  If the listeners do not understand the terms, they will tune you out.  Once they tune you out, it is almost impossible to get them back.

8. Do not read your speech.  It indicates that you are not prepared.  But worse yet, it increases your talking speed.  Speakers should use between 1.5 and 2.5 words per second maximum.  Get your cell phone out and talk at the rate of 1 word per second.  You will find that this is – v   e   r   y – slow.  Next, try two words per second.  This is just right.  Now try three words per second.  This is way too fast.  The 1.5 to 2 words-per-second tempo is what most news broadcasters use.

 Finally, do not become monotone.  That is like placing a sleeping spell over the audience.

All speeches should be less than 20 minutes in length.  Ted™ Talks have a limit of 18 minutes for a reason. 

Tell a story with your words or use real-life examples or analogies.  This isn’t easy to do and can take hours to come up with each example or analogy. 

Do not present any more than three main points. Two is better.  Listeners will tune you out if they have to keep track of multiple points. 

If you can tell a joke, sprinkle a little humor into the talk.  Humor is a great ice breaker. But it is more than just words.  It needs proper timing, rhythm, and facial expressions.  A poor joke is worse than no joke.  Practice all jokes with a friend or spouse and demand honest answers.  Don’t do it if it doesn’t come across as great.  It takes an incredible amount of work and practice to be a comedian. 

9. Someone Is on Their Cell Phone. People on cell phones create chaos.  It is a numbers game.   If you see a dozen or more people talking or texting on their cell phones, try this trick:

Have an audience member call you after you have flashed a secret signal.  Have your ringer set to its highest volume.  Then raise your finger to the audience and answer the cell phone.  Begin talking on the phone in a loud voice, walk back and forth behind the microphone, and chuckle once in a while.   Then after about 10 seconds, hang up, re-approach the microphone and look at the audience.  Then say, “How many of you found my telephone call annoying?”  When the audience agrees, you then reply, “Me too.”  

Please do not point out or embarrass those using their cell phone.  They know who they are and know that you were talking to them.